Thursday, August 28, 2008 Lumad elders rue NCIP's preferential stance
THE council of elders and clan members of indigenous peoples at sitio Magum, Barangay Macambol in the City of Mati are still seeking for the fair intervention of the National Commission of Indigenous People (NCIP) to fix the tribal dispute in the area.
Magum clan representative Salvador Barbado told Sun.Star Davao that his letter addressed to the NCIP Mati that contained his clan's problem was not given proper attention and appropriate action.
He said the same letter was sent to NCIP regional office through regional director Roque Agton. However, the group's complaint is still left unanswered.
In a separate interview, Agton clarified that the reason the NCIP could not address the complaint is that it only recognized the Macambol Tribal Council as the legitimate IPs in the said area.
"Kinahanglan pa bang i-recognize sa NCIP ang usa ka lumad una pa sila motubag sa mga problema nga gitunol ngadto kanila (Should the NCIP only entertain complaints and problems raised by recognized groups)?" Barbado asked.
He said the Magum clans and council of elders feel they were stripped of respect by the actions of the NCIP as they believe that this government agency has been favoring a certain tribal group and neglecting some other tribal members who also have the same rights for their ancestral domain.
Barbado cited NCIP Provincial officer Julius Mabini as the one who did not recognize them as tribal members of Magum.
"Ang akong nahibal-an nga ang NCIP gimugna aron mag-unify ug mag-oversee sa mga problema sa mga lumad (As far as I know, NCIP is tasked to unify and oversee the problems faced by the IPs)," he added.
Mindanao Indigenous Peoples' Conference for Peace and Development (MIPCPD) chairperson Datu Joel Unad suggested that NCIP should remain fair and balance in settling the issue.
Unad said that the best way for NCIP to intervene is for the government agency to gather both parties, listen to both sides, and allow them to come up with solutions through the guidance of the NCIP officials. (CPM)
